Making Health Care Work

What's New

On March 22, 2010, President Barack Obama brought a hundred-year struggle for affordable health care to a close when he signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

But as federal government and states are formulating the regulations and state laws that will put health reform into action, health insurers are trying their same old tricks.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius has called on state insurance regulators to scrutinize any insurance increases by Wellpoint, the nation’s largest insurer, after that company was forced to roll back poorly justified 39 percent rate hikes in California. Florida PIRG is keeping the pressure on to make sure that consumers see the full benefit of the new law.

How You Can Help

Thank Your Representative for Health Reform!

On March 22nd, 219 Members of the House of Representatives helped make health reform the law of the land. Everyone of them now faces the strong enmity of special interests. Tell them they did the right thing.

Overview

Every year, Americans pay more and more but get less and less when it comes to health care.

Spiraling health care costs have driven the average job-based family insurance plan to more than $12,000 a year, and that price tag and is expected to double by 2016.

America’s health care system is structured for drug industry, insurance company, and medical specialty profits, not better health outcomes for you.

Florida PIRG is fighting for affordable health care that every family can depend on by:

• Stopping insurance companies from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions.

• Trimming costly red tape and overhead through simplified insurance forms, information technology and insurer-efficiency standards.

• Rewarding personalized care from your provider and prevention, not just endless tests, procedures and emergency room visits.

• Giving every patient and doctor the most up-to-date information on which treatments and medicines work best.

• Making insurance plans compete for your business, by letting Americans choose the care that’s right for them

Field Associate Raamnek Saini speaking at a press conference on March 29 to celebrate the passage of health reform legislation as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others listen.

News

Statement in Response to Today’s Court Decision to Strike Amendment #9 12/31/1969

Today, Leon County Circuit Court Judge James Shelfer removed Amendment #9 from the ballot. This amendment was a blatant attempt by state lawmakers to prevent the implementation of the new national health care reform legislation in Florida. PIRG opposed this amendment in the legislature and salutes the court's decision.

Browse recent news releases by issue.

Reports

Delivering On The Promise: A State Guide to the Next Steps for Health Care Reform 6/16/2010

The recently passed federal health care reform law will make significant changes in how health insurance and health care work for consumers, businesses, and local and state governments, as well as how insurers and providers operate. This guide has been written to assist state policymakers and advocates as they engage with the numerous issues and opportunities presented by the new law.

Healthcare Reform: The $3 Trillion Dollar Question 8/05/2009

Without health care reform, the United States is projected to spend over $40 trillion on health care in the next decade. Experts estimate that thirty percent of that spending – up to $12 trillion dollars – will be wasted on ineffective care, pointless red tape, and counterproductive treatments that can actually harm patients. Health care reform can save billions of dollars in every state of the union, opening up the possibility of increased private and public investment, higher job growth, and increased savings.

More Reports

Our Coalition

At the national level, Florida PIRG participates in these coalitions:

Health Care for America NOW!, is a national grassroots coalition of unions, citizen groups, and advocacy organizations organizing millions of Americans to win a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all.

The National Coalition on Health Care, is comprised of more than 70 organizations, employing or representing about 150 million Americans. Members, including businesses, pension funds, unions, consumer groups, and health care provider groups are united in the belief that we need better, more affordable health care for all Americans.

ISSUES